Carl blinked repeatedly, his gaze fixed on the paper Lea had just handed him.Divorce papers.Again.Everything… was happening again.It felt like he had been thrown back in time—to the exact day Jasmine decided to end their marriage.“Mr. Donovan? Are you listening?” Lea asked impatiently. “Sign these papers now. Don’t worry—Ms. Garcia will compensate you well.”Carl blinked again.Same words. Same tone. Same moment.Nothing had changed.He suddenly stood up.“I need to go,” he said.He had to confirm something.Lea could only stare as Carl walked past her without another word. She rolled her eyes in irritation.“This man,” she muttered. “Does he really think he still has a chance with Miss Jasmine? She’s far too rich now. They’re not even in the same league anymore. He should just accept his fate.”Shaking her head, she stepped out of the room.—Carl, meanwhile, walked straight out without slowing down. He ignored the guards who still bowed respectfully to him, even though he was i

Sophia didn’t move right away.“…Everything?” she echoed, unsure whether to laugh or worry.—Carl had already taken a few steps ahead before stopping, glancing back at her.“…Are you coming?”—There was something in his voice.Not urgency.Not pressure.—Certainty.—Sophia hesitated for only a second—then followed.“…You’re acting weird,” she said as she caught up beside him.—Carl gave a quiet huff.“…Yeah. I figured.”—They walked past the prison gates together.The guards watched in silence, still respectful, still confused—but none of them dared to question Carl.—Outside, the world looked… normal.Cars passing.People walking.No war.No distortions.No signs of the chaos Carl remembered.—And yet—He knew exactly how fragile it all was.—“…Start talking,” Sophia said, folding her arms lightly. “You pull me into a dramatic ‘walk with me’ moment, then go quiet?”—Carl glanced at her.“…Do you trust me?”—Sophia blinked.“…That’s your first question?”—Carl didn’t look

They didn’t take the main roads.Carl led, cutting through side streets, construction alleys, and half-finished blocks—paths that shaved minutes and avoided attention.—Sophia kept pace, breath steady, eyes sharp.“…You’ve memorized the city?”—Carl didn’t slow.“…Not the city.”A beat.“…The patterns.”—She huffed.“…Right. Of course you did.”—They reached a dead-end alley—at least, that’s what it looked like.Concrete wall. No doors. No markings.—Carl stopped.—“…This is it.”—Sophia blinked.“…You’re kidding.”—Carl stepped forward and pressed his palm against the wall.Nothing happened.—Sophia folded her arms.“…Impressive. We’ve found a very solid wall.”—Carl exhaled.“…It’s early.”—He glanced around, recalculating.“…The access point isn’t active yet.”—Sophia tilted her head.“…So we’re stuck?”—Carl shook his head.“…No.”—He crouched, running his fingers along the base of the wall—counting, measuring, remembering.—“…There’s a maintenance seam,” he murmure

The core didn’t roar.It breathed.—A steady, even pulse filled the chamber—quiet, controlled, alive without spilling over.—Sophia stared at it, then at Carl.“…That’s it?”—Carl watched the light for a moment longer.“…That’s it.”—No rupture.No distortion ripping through the walls.No sudden collapse of reality.—Just—stability.—Sophia let out a long breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.“…Okay. I was expecting… you know… apocalypse-level consequences.”—Kael wasn’t here to make a joke.And somehow, that silence made it feel even heavier.—Carl stepped off the platform.“…Those come later.”—Sophia blinked.“…I’m sorry, what?”—Carl glanced at her, almost apologetic.“…Different doesn’t mean easy.”—Behind them, the observers stood in a quiet line—watching, recalculating.—One of them finally spoke.“…The cascade has begun.”—Sophia turned.“…That doesn’t sound reassuring.”—The man tilted his head slightly.“…It isn’t meant to be.”—Carl crossed his arms.

The crowd thinned, but the feeling didn’t.Eyes lingered longer than they should. Conversations dropped to whispers as Carl and Sophia passed. Not fear—assessment.—Sophia kept her voice low.“…We’ve got a problem.”—Carl didn’t slow.“…We’ve got several.”—She glanced around.“…No. A specific one. They’re organizing.”—Carl nodded once.“…I see it.”—Across the intersection, three of the “calm ones” stood apart from the rest—quietly guiding people, redirecting foot traffic, creating space like invisible lines were being drawn.—“…They’re mapping behavior,” Sophia said.—“…And testing control,” Carl added.—A black sedan rolled up beside them.Windows tinted.Engine still.—Sophia stiffened.“…Please tell me that’s not—”—The rear door opened.—A familiar voice.“…Get in. Both of you.”—Carl exhaled.“…Took you long enough.”—Sophia blinked.“…You know him?”—From the backseat, a man leaned forward—sharp eyes, composed posture.President Leo.—“…I know of him,” Carl sai